First gay parade held in India's Gujarat state

The first-ever gay-pride parade in the western Indian state of Gujarat took
place on Sunday after officials finally gave permission for it to be held.

12:40PM BST 07 Oct 2013

More than a hundred of members and supporters of Gujarat's LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community took to the streets of Surat, bearing rainbow flags and banners and dancing to traditional music.

Many wore scarves and masks to hide their identites during the parade.

Organisers said they had been waiting a long time for permission to hold the event.

They felt that the general public was mostly enthusiastic and supportive of it.

Same-sex relationships were decriminalised in India in 2009, and pride parades are held in many cities in India every year.